The tourism accommodation sector accounted for 5.8 million guests and 13.6 million overnight stays in the 1st quarter of 2026, with changes of +1.5% and +1.3%, respectively (+2.9% and +1.9% in the same order, in the 4th quarter of 2025). Total revenue amounted to EUR 1.0 billion and revenue from accommodation totalled EUR 734.5 million, marking growth of 5.5% and 5.1%, respectively (+5.5% and +4.5% in the previous quarter).
External markets remained dominant (68.0% of the total), at 9.2 million overnight stays (+1.4%). In turn, overnight stays by residents increased by 1.2% to 4.3 million.
In the 1st quarter of the year, dependence on foreign markets, measured by the proportion of overnight stays by non-residents, was highest in RA Madeira (85.9% of the total), followed by Algarve (80.9%), and Grande Lisboa (78.6%). In contrast, the regions of Centro and Alentejo had the lowest dependence on foreign markets (23.5% and 32.1%, respectively).
The region of Grande Lisboa accounted for the highest number of overnight stays in the 1st quarter of 2026 (28.6% of the total), followed by Norte (18.9%) and Algarve (18.5%). Overnight stays by residents were mostly concentrated in Norte (24.6% of the total), while those by non-residents were mainly spent in Grande Lisboa (33.1% of the total).
According to information from the Monthly Statement of Earnings (Declaração Mensal de Remunerações) from Social Security (DMR/SS) and the Contributory Relation (Relação Contributiva) of Caixa Geral de Aposentações (RC/CGA), the gross monthly remuneration per employee (per job) in Accommodation activities (NACE 55) increased by 5.0% in the 1st quarter of 2026, compared to the same period last year, standing at EUR 1,351, i.e., EUR 259 below the total for the whole economy, where remuneration increased by 5.0% in the same period.
It should be noted that the quarter results might have been influenced by the moving structure of the calendar, i.e., by the effect associated with the Easter period.
